While the total number of workers who were killed on the job increased 2% in 2014, the overall employee death rate was about the same when you consider how much the labor force has grown, according to a new report.
The National Census of Fatal Occupational Injuries in 2014 found that 4,679 US workers were killed on the job during 2014, compared to 4,585 the previous year. That works out to 3.3 deaths per 100,000 workers in 2014, the same rate as 2013.
While the figures won’t be released until spring of 2016, the US Bureau of Labor Statistics report found that over the past five years, net increases to the preliminary count averaged 173 new deaths per year — ranging from the low of 84 in 20111 (a 2% increase) to a high of 245 in 2012 (a 6%) increase.
Call for Increased Safety
While the average number of worker deaths remained the same between 2014 and 2013, that’s not good enough, according to US Labor Secretary Thomas E. Perez.
“Far too many people are still killed on the job — 13 workers every day taken from their families tragically and unnecessarily,” Perez said in a news release. “These numbers underscore the urgent need for employers to provide a safe workplace for their employees as the law requires.”
Construction, Oil and Gas Industries Hit Hardest
There were 885 deaths among workers in the construction and oil and gas extraction industries, an increase of 5%, the highest total for this occupation group since 2008.
Construction fatalities rose to 874 in 2014, compared to 828 in 2013. But the overall fatal injury rate for construction workers was 9.5 per 100,000, down from 9.7 per 100,000 the previous year — again because there were more people working in this industry in 2014 than there were in 2013.
“BLS data shows fatalities rising in the construction sector, along with an overall increase in construction employment,” Perez said. “Dangerous workplaces also are taking the lives of a growing number of people in oil and gas extraction. That is why OSHA continues extensive outreach and strong enforcement campaigns in these industries. The US Department of Labor will continue to work with employers, workers, community organizations, unions and others to make sure that all workers can return home safely at the end of every day.”
Truck Drivers and Warehouse Workers
Transportation and material moving occupations accounted for the largest share (28%) of fatal occupational injuries of any occupation group. Worker deaths in this group rose 3%to 1,289 in 2014, the most since 2008. Drivers/sales workers and truck drivers accounted for nearly 2 out of every 3 fatal injuries in this group.
Within this occupational group, drivers/sales workers increased 74% to 54 in 2014 and heavy and tractor-trailer drivers had their highest total since 2008, 725 fatalities in 2014.
Other Workers
The number or deaths among police and fire workers decreased 15%, according to the report. Only 211 workers in this category were killed on the job. And the number of firemen killed decreased 51% to 35 during 2014. But a total of 103 police officers were killed, an increase of 17% over 2013.
Fatal injuries among women rose 13% in 2014 to 359, up from 319 in 2013. Fatal work injures among men in 2014 were slightly higherthan the previous year. As in previous years, men accounted for 92% of all fatal worker injuries.